Objectives: Globally, gastrointestinal cancers are the most common cancers in the older population aged 65 and older. Due to such high prevalence, this study aimed to provide the incidence rate of these cancers in such population and observe the changing impact of these cancers with increasing age versus young adult (15 to 44) and middle age (45 to 64) groups.

Methods & Materials: A population based cancer registry was undertaken register all new cancer cases during a one year period (March 2006 to March 2007). Data were collected by recording consecutive cancer patients from all referral and valid pathology laboratories, hospitals and out patient public and private clinics, diagnostic and clinic laboratories, radiotherapy and chemotherapy centers and death certificates.

Results: During one year, 1533 new onset cases were collected in the East Azerbaijan province. Eight hundred twenty four patients (53.8%) were ≥65 years, 522(34.1%) middle age group and 125 patients (8.2%) in young adult group. Four percent of patients were with unknown age group. In elderly group, 67.2% were male and 32.8% were female. The mean age (±SD) at diagnosis was 73.74±5.64 years for males and 73.39±5.88 years for females. Based on age-standardized rate (ASR), gastric cancer (222.30) in males and esophageal cancer (83.13) in females which were found to be the most common cancers in the elder group. The gastric cancer incidence rate in geriatric males was 3 times higher than females (80.81) of the same group. Colorectal cancer was the third common cancer (63.02 in males and 43.51 in females) and small intestinal cancer (excluding the anal cancer) had the lowest incidence rate among gastrointestinal cancers (3.42 and 3.59).

Conclusion: In spite of increasing life expectancy and quality of life in Iran due to increasing of higher quality of life care demands. This study concluded a high incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in geriatric. Since the pattern of population is young pattern in Iran and they will be aged in a few years, gastrointestinal cancers must be look upon as an important issue in this target population. It is essential to emphasis the increasing need for research in different aspects of the prevention and the planning for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers the elderly.